French baker fined 3,000 euros for working too hard

In France, there is a local decree that bans bakeries from staying open seven days a week. Photo: AFP

Star Online Report

French people appreciate their holidays so much that apparently a French baker was fined €3,000 (£2,650) for keeping his business open seven days a week, breaking their labour rules.

In France, there is a local decree that bans bakeries from staying open seven days a week, reports the BBC.

Cédric Vaivre, who runs the only bakery in Lusigny-sur-Barse in north-east France, kept his shop open every day during the summer of 2017 to serve tourists.

Vaivre is reportedly refusing to pay the fine and his community, including the local mayor, is supporting him.

"There is nothing worse than closed shops when there are tourists," said Christian Branle, Lusigny-sur-Barse's mayor.

He is hoping to meet with the official from the French department of Aube who imposed the fine.

A petition in support of the 41-year-old baker has attracted more than 2,000 signatures.

Vaivre told local media he only wants his bakery La Boulangerie du Lac to be open seven days during the summer months to deal with the demands of tourists.

"I only did my job," he said in December after labour inspectors were alerted to his case.

The town of 2,000 people experiences an influx of tourists visiting the lakes at a nearby protected regional park during the summer.

In 2017, over 120 local businesses were asked by the employers' bakers union in Aube whether they wanted to maintain the decree Vaivre broke. The majority reportedly said they wanted to maintain the rule that mandates them to have a day of rest.